Samsung granted patent for tri-fold and rollable display technology

Samsung has received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its tri-fold and rollable display technology. The South Korean tech group previously showcased an advanced tri-fold display at CES 2022, which featured a home screen on the first panel and a wide view of video streaming apps on the second and third panels. The company also patented a display that can be expanded by unfolding it from its compact case.

first patent describe Using a display module with “at least one folding area” Unlike traditional book-style foldable phones (Figure 1B) with outer and inner screens, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or OnePlus Open, Samsung’s patent envisions using a tri-fold display ( Figure 2B), expanded in such a way that all three panels are simultaneously visible when opened. This appears to be a patent for the Flex S technology that Samsung showed off two years ago.

Samsung’s standard foldable (left) and tri-fold screens
Photo credit: Screenshot/USPTO

At the same time, the company also received a second patent describing a device with rollable display Inside a housing that can “deform” in two states – closed and open. According to the patent document, the display panel retracts into the housing when the device is closed (Figure 1A, bottom image), and extends through the use of a hinge when in use.

Various drawings of a rollable display show how the panel can leave the case and expand to form a large screen – the document doesn’t specify whether this is a foldable smartphone or another device such as a tablet, monitor or TV. When fully unfolded, the device’s display (Figure 8A, Figure 2A) appears much larger than in its original form, and is more compact as the entire device returns into the housing when closed.

Samsung’s rollable display when folded (left) and unfolded
Photo credit: Screenshot/USPTO

While Samsung has patented both foldable screen technologies, the company has not revealed plans to introduce them into consumer electronics devices in the near future. The company may also work on perfecting these technologies while resolving issues related to performance and durability (common in foldable devices) before making them available to customers.